Header for curved pipes

ABSTRACT

A header for several curved pipes of a motor vehicle carrying exhaust gas, including a first shell and a second shell, which can be connected to one another in a sealed manner by a shell connection that forms a connection plane (E), at least one outlet port for connecting to an exhaust pipe of an exhaust gas system, and several curved-pipe connection ports for connecting the curved pipes, wherein the outlet port is designed as a passage within the respective shell and at least one first curved-pipe connection port is provided, which is designed as a passage within only one of the two shells.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a header or coupling element for several curved pipes of a motor vehicle carrying exhaust gas, with a first shell and a second shell, which can be connected to one another in a sealed manner by means of a continuous material or form-fitting shell connection that forms a connection plane E, with at least one outlet port for connecting to an exhaust pipe of an exhaust gas system and with several curved-pipe connection ports for connecting the curved pipes, wherein the outlet port is designed as a passage within the respective shell. The passage is configured as a hole, in contrast with a subsequently described configuration, and therefore confined to one shell. If there are several outlet ports, these and therefore the respective passages can be distributed on one shell or on both shells.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

EP 1 329 607 A2 specifies a hood manifold, whose gas carrying inner pipe manifold is formed from single-piece, T-shaped pipelines. Each time, the front pipeline adjoins the following pipeline. A header for several manifolds is not described.

EP 0 748 928 B1 specifies a manifold-header arrangement formed from sheet metal shells, which has several curved-pipe connection ports formed by shaping of two sheet metal shells in the region of the connection plane for the connection of four curved pipes and an outlet port formed by the sheet metal shells for connection to an exhaust pipe of an exhaust gas system.

DE 103 01 395 A1 likewise specifies a manifold-header formed from sheet metal shells, having several curved-pipe connection ports formed by shaping of two sheet metal shells in the region of the connection plane for the connection of four curved pipes. The outlet port is formed as a passage within the lower sheet metal shell for connection to an exhaust pipe of an exhaust gas system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problem of the invention is to configure and arrange a header such that space-saving connection geometries are assured.

The problem is solved according to the invention in that at least one curved-pipe connection port is provided, which is configured as a passage within only one of the two shells. Although the passage is somewhat more elaborate in terms of fabrication than a classical shaping in the region of the connection plane E, thanks to placement of the curved-pipe connection port with preferably a vertical spacing from the connection plane E it is possible to place the curved-pipe connection port at a different height of the header, which affords substantially more flexibility for the curved pipe and header architecture. This also ensures a more compact and thus lighter construction of the manifold-header assembly on the whole. The shells are preferably sheet metal shells.

It can also be advantageous when at least one second curved-pipe connection port is provided, which is formed as a shaping of the two shells in the region of a shell margin and arranged in the connection plane E. Such a curved-pipe connection port is thus formed or enclosed by both shells. An additional curved-pipe connection port as a shaping guarantees the greatest possible flexibility in the arrangement of the curved-pipe connection port on the shells, and therefore for the architecture of the assembly as a whole, because the curved-pipe connection port can be arranged at different heights. The shaping differs from the passage in that it can be created during the deep drawing of one particular sheet metal shell by a half-round shaping of the two sheet metal shells in the shell margin. The passage within only one shell is based, on the contrary, on a removal of the shell material, which forms the opening of the passage. The connection plane E is preferably flat in configuration. Fundamentally, however, it can also be arched or corrugated, and therefore not flat in configuration. In this case, the curved-pipe connection ports arranged in the connection plane E would already be placed at different heights.

Moreover, it can be advantageous for two or three or four curved-pipe connection ports to be configured as passages and/or two or three or four curved-pipe connection ports as a shaping. The choice of the passages and shapings is arbitrary and should be chosen for the desired architecture.

It can be advantageously provided that one or more curved-pipe connection ports configured as a passage are arranged in the first and/or in the second shell. The choice of the shell is likewise arbitrary. Basically, a passage is also possible in the upper shell, so that the manifold is led into the header from above.

If can be of special importance to the present invention if at least one curved-pipe connection port configured as a passage is configured as a common connection port for at least two curved pipes. This enables an even more compact design.

In connection with the configuration and arrangement according to the invention, it can be advantageous when at least one curved-pipe connection port configured as a shaping is configured as a common connection port for at least two curved pipes. The procedure itself is likewise familiar from the prior art, for example, from WO 00/47878 A1. However, a very compact design can be achieved in connection with a manifold passage.

It can also be advantageous if the outlet port is configured as a passage within only one of the two shells and the curved-pipe connection port likewise configured as a passage is arranged in the same shell. Thus, the passages can be confined to one shell, which overall leads to a very compact design.

Moreover, it can be advantageous if the shell or the shells are formed from sheet metal or configured as a cast iron piece. Sheet metal shells are on the whole less costly and lighter than cast iron shells.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the shells and/or the curved pipes are configured with one or two walls. With the two-wall design, curved pipes insulated by air gaps can be connected accordingly.

The aforementioned advantages are also assured for a system consisting of a header as described above with two interconnected shells and/or with curved pipes connected thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages and details of the invention are explained in the patent claims and in the specification and represented in the figures. There are shown:

FIG. 1 a a perspective view of a header with four curved pipes and four ports;

FIG. 1 b an embodiment per FIG. 1 a seen from below;

FIG. 2 a a perspective view of a header with four curved pipes and three ports;

FIG. 2 b an embodiment per FIG. 2 a seen from below;

FIG. 3 a two-wall design of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the embodiment of FIG. 1 a, four curved pipes 2.1-2.4 are provided, which empty into a header 1. Moreover, an exhaust pipe 6 is provided for an exhaust gas system (not shown), emerging from the header 1. The four curved pipes 2.1-2.4 are connected to a manifold flange (not shown).

The header 1 is formed from two half-shells 3, 4 of sheet metal, each one having a shell margin 3.2, 4.4, which are connected by continuous material connection or by form fitting in gas-tight manner to a shell connection 3.1, 4.1 in a connection plane E. There are four curved-pipe connection ports 3.4 a, 3.4 b, 4.2 a, 4.2 b, to which the respective curved pipe 2.1-2.4 is connected. While the curved-pipe connection ports 3.4 a, 3.4 b are formed as a semicircular shaping at the shell margin 3.2, 4,4 within the respective half-shells 3, 4, the curved-pipe connection ports 4.2 a, 4.2 b are configured as a passage within one half-shell, here, the lower half-shell 4. Therefore, the curved-pipe connection ports 3.4 a, 3.4 b are situated in the connection plane E, while the curved-pipe connection ports 4.2 a, 4.2 b are configured as part of the lower sheet metal shell 4 underneath the connection plane E and positioned there.

The header 1 has a basic oblong shape, the curved-pipe connection ports 3.4 a, 3.4 b, 4.2 a, 4.2 b being grouped alongside each other at its rear part 1 a. At a front part 1 b of the header 1 are arranged the passage 5 and the exhaust pipe 6. Thus, the curved pipes 2.2, 2.3 are joined to the header 1 or the lower shell 4 from underneath in a direction perpendicular to the connection plane E. The other curved pipes 2.1, 2.4 are joined to the header 1 in a direction parallel to the connection plane E.

Thus, the necessary space requirement is divided between the region in the connection plane E, i.e., about the periphery of the header 1, and the region underneath the connection plane E, directly in the sheet metal shell 4.

By the embodiment in FIG. 2 a, 2 b, a common passage 4.2 for the curved pipes 2.2, 2.3 is provided within the lower half-shell 4. The curved pipes 2.2, 2.3 empty in the header 1 two in one, so to speak. The common curved-pipe connection port 4.2 formed in this way is larger in diameter than the respective single curved-pipe connection ports 4.2 a, 4.2 b and somewhat smaller than the passage 5 for the exhaust pipe 6.

By the embodiment of FIG. 3, the header 1 which is known from FIG. 1 is fashioned with two walls in the LSI-configuration.

The two outer shells 30, 40 are arranged about the inner shells 3, 4 and joined gas-tight in a continuous material connection or form fitting connection in the connection plane E. The four curved pipes 21-24 are fashioned as split outer shells and enclose the curved pipes 2.1-2.4. The curved-pipe connection ports 34 a, 34 b are likewise formed as a shaping on the shell margin 32, 44, while the curved-pipe connection port 42 b is configured as a passage within the second outer shell 40. The exhaust pipe 6 can likewise have a two-wall design.

Since the outer shells described here are connected gas-tight, a gas-tight connection between the half-shells 3, 4 on the one hand and the curved pipes 2.1-2.4 on the other is not necessary.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   1 Header, coupling element -   1 a Rear part -   1 b Front part -   2.1 Curved pipe -   2.2 Curved pipe -   2.3 Curved pipe -   2.4 Curved pipe -   3 First shell, metal shell -   3.1 Shell connection -   3.2 Shell margin -   3.4 a Curved-pipe connection port, shaping -   3.4 b Curved-pipe connection port, shaping -   4 Second shell, metal shell -   4.1 Shell connection -   4.2 Common curved-pipe connection port, passage -   4.2 a Curved-pipe connection port, passage -   4.2 b Curved-pipe connection port, passage -   4.4 Shell margin -   5 Outlet port, passage -   6 Exhaust pipe -   21 Curved pipe, outer shell -   22 Curved pipe, outer shell -   23 Curved pipe, outer shell -   24 Curved pipe, outer shell -   30 First outer shell -   32 Shell margin -   34 a Curved-pipe connection port, shaping -   34 b Curved-pipe connection port, shaping -   40 Second outer shell -   42 b Curved-pipe connection port, passage -   44 Shell margin -   E Connection plane 

What is claimed is:
 1. A header for several curved pipes of a motor vehicle carrying exhaust gas, comprising: a first shell and a second shell, which can be connected to one another in a sealed manner by a shell connection that forms a connection plane E, with at least one outlet port for connecting to an exhaust pipe of an exhaust gas system and with several curved-pipe connection ports for connecting the curved pipes, wherein the outlet port (5) is designed as a passage within the respective shell, wherein at least one first curved-pipe connection port is provided, which is designed as a passage within only one of the two shells.
 2. The header according to claim 1, wherein at least one second curved-pipe connection port is provided, which is formed as a shaping of the two shells in the region of a shell margin and arranged in the connection plane E.
 3. The header according to claim 1, wherein two or three or four curved-pipe connection ports are configured as passages and/or two or three or four curved-pipe connection ports as a shaping.
 4. The header according to claim 1, wherein the one or more curved-pipe connection ports configured as a passage are arranged in the first and/or in the second shell.
 5. The header according to claim 3, wherein the at least one curved-pipe connection port configured as a passage is configured as a common connection port for at least two curved pipes.
 6. The header according to claim 3, wherein the at least one curved-pipe connection port configured as a shaping is configured as a common connection port for at least two curved pipes.
 7. The header according to claim 3, wherein the outlet port configured as a passage and the curved-pipe connection port configured as a passage are arranged in the same shell.
 8. The header according to claim 1, wherein the shells are formed from sheet metal or configured as a cast iron piece.
 9. The header according to claim 1, wherein the shells and/or the curved pipes are configured with one or two walls.
 10. A system, consisting of: a header according to claim 1, with two interconnected shells and/or with curved pipes connected thereto.
 11. The header according to claim 2, wherein two or three or four curved-pipe connection ports are configured as passages and/or two or three or four curved-pipe connection ports as a shaping.
 12. The header according to claim 11, wherein one or more of the curved-pipe connection ports configured as a passage are arranged in the first and/or in the second shell.
 13. The header according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the curved-pipe connection port configured as a passage is configured as a common connection port for at least two curved pipes.
 14. The header according to claim 13, wherein the at least one curved-pipe connection port configured as a shaping is configured as a common connection port for at least two curved pipes.
 15. The header according to claim 14, wherein the outlet port configured as a passage and the curved-pipe connection port configured as a passage are arranged in the same shell.
 16. The header according to claim 15, wherein the shells are formed from sheet metal or configured as a cast iron piece.
 17. The header according to claim 16, wherein the shells and/or the curved pipes are configured with one or two walls.
 18. A system, consisting of: a header according to claim 17, with two interconnected shells and/or with curved pipes connected thereto. 